I really want to attribute the ratings bump to the increased presence of Flair in the main event picture. In fact, I think I shall do so. Perhaps a few of the WCW fans who drifted away got lured back when they heard from friends of friends that Flair was doing stuff again.

Whether it's Flair, Edge, or whatever, I'll just note it all is happening without HHH in a major role right now.

Edit: I guess it's not so far-fetched. From another Meltzer page

Originally posted by MeltzIn last week's cable ratings, USA placed second with a 2.2 average to Disney's 2.6. Raw, even with the big ratings pulled by the TLC match, was No. 5 and No. 6 behind two episodes of a high school musical on Disney, Powerhouse 2 on Nick and Monk on USA. In 18-49, Raw was No. 1 and No. 2, and it was also No. 1 in 25-54 with the Flair title challenge bringing a lot of 35-49s back that usually don't watch the show

If they are gonna keep the belt on Edge, after he wins at the Rumble, he needs to go back to the more traditional WWE Title belt. That'd be like Rocky carrying around the Smoking Skull belt for an entire reign after beating Austin for it, just looks awkward.

I think this is the year that a Smackdown guy wins it, and actually challenges for a Smackdown Title shot, or better yet, a Raw guy win it, and jump ship to Smackdown. Help out the roster a little bit.

Better yet, even though I'm sure this has probably been suggested, but why not wait until the Rumble to crown the Heavyweight title after Batista's injury. How much more important would the Rumble be if the winner didn't get just a title shot at WrestleMania, but the gold itself??

Another factor for the sudden jump in ratings has to be the end of football on Monday nights. The NFL's Monday Night Football ended in late December followed by the last of college football bowl games on Monday January 2 leading to the sudden jump on Raw the week after that.

I know I'm in the minority here, or I may be the only one period, but I like that Edge has the spinner belt. He's an obnoxious heel and it adds to his heelitude that he's carrying around the ugliest, most obnoxious championship belt in WWE history. On Cena it's supposed to look "cool" and fits his gimmick, but on Edge, it adds that little extra bit of asshole that suits him. I especially love when he spins the WWE logo around while the belt sits on his shoulder and when Lita plays with it. If Edge survives Cena and stays Champion, he should switch to the traditional belt but as long as he's feuding with Cena, carrying the spinner belt around adds an extra bit of heel that works for Edge's character.

It's also not that surprising that Edge as Champion is playing a factor in raising RAW's ratings as of late. Edge is someone who came in during the Attitude era and if you've been watching for the last 7-8 years, you've seen Edge all this time and watched him grow as a performer. He has given us all a lot of memorable moments in some great matches, be it his TLC wars when the tag team division had its last peak or his matches with Kurt Angle four years ago so most of us think well of him at least for that even if you dislike him today.

Whether you like Edge or hate him, it's gratifying to see a talented guy climb the ladder all the way to the top over the course of several years: Tag Team Champion, IC Champion to finally World Champion. That's the way you're supposed to do it. One of the stigmas against John Cena and Batista as Champions (Brock Lesnar before that) was the perception (and reality) of too much-too soon. Edge didn't come in, get hot for a short period, sell some merchandise or get hand picked and then got put at the top of the card. He started at the bottom and worked his way to the top. I think fans who have been watching Edge since the Attitude era deep down appreciate that, regardless of how much they like Adam Copeland or his Edge character. It's great to see a guy work his way to the top and he's starting to find his footing as Champion. Does that = ratings? Maybe. I don't think it hurts it.

RAW's ratings never surpassed 4.0 during this period last year (post-football, Batista main-event push) until just before WrestleMania.

As far as Flair goes, I won't discount the demos, but there was a 7-week period where Flair was doing some pretty meaningful stuff (just winning IC title up to the match with HHH at Taboo Tuesday). The feud with HHH is main-event level by default. The ratings for those 7 weeks were:

3.6, 3.2, 4.4 (Homecoming), 4.0, 3.6, 3.9, 3.4

The move to USA surely skews things a bit, but there's nothing to write home about. Cena did not bring any meaningful ratings trend to RAW. I'm chalking this up to Edge. :-)

It's all about the face contender chasing the heel champ. I f'n love Edge as champ and his whole "Rated R Superstar" character (damnit, why didn't I think of that for my Smackdown vs. RAW created wrestler).

Maybe it's teenagers hoping to see more of Lita taking off her clothes.

I prefer to lay the ratings at Edge's feet as he's been an entertaining weasel-heel champ. And one can't ignore the appeal of Mama Benjamin, a genuine laugh riot who's probably just a month away from bringing back the Stinkface.

Originally posted by John OrquiolaI know I'm in the minority here, or I may be the only one period, but I like that Edge has the spinner belt. He's an obnoxious heel and it adds to his heelitude that he's carrying around the ugliest, most obnoxious championship belt in WWE history. On Cena it's supposed to look "cool" and fits his gimmick, but on Edge, it adds that little extra bit of asshole that suits him. I especially love when he spins the WWE logo around while the belt sits on his shoulder and when Lita plays with it. If Edge survives Cena and stays Champion, he should switch to the traditional belt but as long as he's feuding with Cena, carrying the spinner belt around adds an extra bit of heel that works for Edge's character.

You're not the only one! I love Edge with the spinner belt -- I think it works perfectly for him. In fact, I'll do you one better and say he should keep it even if he makes it past Cena. Part of the belt's appeal is that he's rubbing it in Cena's face, but I think it's wonderfully obnoxious and assholey even with Cena out of the equation.

The belt immediately before the spinner was a really bad one anyway. It didn't scream "WWE champion" to me. If Edge does dump the spinner eventually, or if he drops the title to someone who isn't Cena, they should go with an entirely new one.

Originally posted by DestrucityIf Edge does dump the spinner eventually, or if he drops the title to someone who isn't Cena, they should go with an entirely new one.

I say the belt should become its own title, like the Million Dollar Belt. It would allow the WWE to provide an unofficial Division X to counter TNA.

Yes, I think this should replace the Intercontinental Title. Not only is the belt ignored in current booking (much like the tag belts), but it has an outdated moniker in a company with a WWE World Title AND a WWE Heavyweight Title.

Originally posted by DestrucityYou're not the only one! I love Edge with the spinner belt -- I think it works perfectly for him. In fact, I'll do you one better and say he should keep it even if he makes it past Cena. Part of the belt's appeal is that he's rubbing it in Cena's face, but I think it's wonderfully obnoxious and assholey even with Cena out of the equation.

The belt immediately before the spinner was a really bad one anyway. It didn't scream "WWE champion" to me. If Edge does dump the spinner eventually, or if he drops the title to someone who isn't Cena, they should go with an entirely new one.

My thoughts, exactly.

I'm a Edge fan from day one and I'm really glad that he gets this opportunity. I think he's making the most out of it.

Does anyone else get a HHH-ish vibe from Edge? Instead of trying to be a "cool" heel or tweener with a slew of catch-phrases, glitz, & clever put-downs, he just plays a straight-forward bad guy. And that's basically the same character HHH has played for a few years now.

Part of Edge's appeal as champion, I think, is that he has a decent enough skill-set, he's realistic as champ, he still looks vulnerable (which adds drama to his matches), and most importantly -- he makes his opponent look cooler & sharper than he is (which is something HHH has struggled with of late).

In retrospect, switching the program away from just Cena vs. Edge over to Flair/ Cena vs. Edge was VERY clever. Cena and Edge couldn't expand the current WWE fan-base, but Flair helped bring in the WCW fans and Gen-Xers. And it looks like a few of the Flair fans enjoyed the program enough to hang around...

Originally posted by MayhemIt's all about the face contender chasing the heel champ. I f'n love Edge as champ and his whole "Rated R Superstar" character (damnit, why didn't I think of that for my Smackdown vs. RAW created wrestler).

I think that's true here. By losing the title, Cena has found some of that fire he lost by winning the title this early in his career. Edge, meanwhile, has become a compelling heel champion with a great hook.

The way he flaunts Cena's belt around has helped a lot with this angle, too. I also like the irony of it being flipped upside-down to be a "Mattitude" logo.

Bottom line, what they're doing right now works. Let's see how long it takes for them to mess it up. Well, I guess the Rumble is this weekend, so it all depends on who wins. :)

How about Edge keeps the Cena Spinner Title, but replaces the "W" with a big "R" that he can play with?

As far as ratings go, I'd like to wait until at least a second week of decent ratings comes before proclaiming the reasons why everyone (.3 more than normal) is tuning back into the show. Claiming that anyone has saved the show after only one week seems like jumping the gun a bit.

Although if I had to choose right now, I would have to say that fans tuned in (not just that, but that they CALLED THEIR FRIENDS!) because of the building suspense to Edge choosing Chris Masters as his tag partner. I'm sure if someone looked at the quarterly ratings, that last segment did like, a 15.6 or something.

Originally posted by Tribal ProphetAs far as ratings go, I'd like to wait until at least a second week of decent ratings comes before proclaiming the reasons why everyone (.3 more than normal) is tuning back into the show. Claiming that anyone has saved the show after only one week seems like jumping the gun a bit.

The three weeks of Edge as champion have gotten a 4.3, 4.3, and 4.5 while the three weeks beforehand were all at 3.7. I agree that we should wait more than a month to determine that Edge is a great draw, but there definately has been an encouraging trend since he won the title.